Process for converting or cracking hydrocarbon oils



March 8, 1927.,

' 3 61 9 W. E. TRENT PROCESS FOR CONVERTING OR CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Sept. 27, 1924 CHAEG/IVG 5 C/( HEAT axe/4A IVGER CHARGl/Vs Sroc/r comma-55:0 VAPo/zs CHARG/NG 6706/1 ammtoa r 35 changer 3, the oil'being fed to the warren nnwm TRENT, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or 'conurrnrafnssrenon ro rnnur rnocnss con'rona'rron, or new Yonk, n. Y., A conronn'rron or DELA- waan. v i

PROCESS FOR'CONVEBTING OR CRACKING HYDROC ARBQN OILS.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial No. 740,383.

The inventionrelates to improvements in a process for converting or cracking hydrocarbon oils.

' The invention more particularly relates 5 to a vapor phase process wherein charg ng stock is first vaporized in a heat exchanger,

and then conveyed to a compressor where said vapors are highly compressed and raised to a cracking temperature for deliv cry to said heat interchanger to be condensed by the charging stock passing therethrough andto be collectedas low boiling point oils. v

More specifically, the invention contemplates a process where a portion of the chargmg stock undergoes vaporization 1n a heat interchanger, which heated by a controlled isothermic compression to cause a'cracking or conversion of thehydrocarbon vapors producing low boiling;

'oint oils, the vapors being condensed in the eatinterchanger while the. unvaporized residual oil in said chamber is continuously withdrawn as residuum. In the accompanying drawings I have shown-diagrammaticall an apparatus capable of supporting this process in which Figure 1 represents ,the 'apparatus in diagram. c i

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates a crude oil supply tank having a line 2 leading therefrom to a heat interinterchanger by a pump 4: or othrwise' The heat interchanger comprises an elongated drum, which is preferably insulated, having a space l-therem' into which the crude oil passes, and interior tubes or passages 5 receiving heated vapors passing therethrough and maintained out of contact with the oil for the purpose of vaporizing a substantial portion of the oil introduced'to the heat in- '45 terchanger.

The crude oil introduced to the heat interchan'ger is substantially vaporized in the portion 4 thereof, the vapors, being with drawn through the line 6 into a com ressor 7 operatedrby a steam cylinder 8 or t e like. The compressor is provided with suitable valves so that the vapors entering said comv pressor are subjected tov a compression or say 100 pounds per square inch before. they where it is withdrawn and subjected to any vapors are then highly- 600' F. and then pass to the compressor can escape. The vapors undergo, a controlled compression, whioh results in a con 1 version or cracking of the vapors into low boiling point oils. These vapors after this compression then pass through the line 9 into the interior of tubes 50f the heat exchanger.- By passing the hot compressed vapors through these tubes 5 the incoming charging stock or crude oil surrounding the tubes is highly heated to a temperature of I say 500 to 600? F., and the compressedrva- 0e pors are cooledand largely condensed. "The condensate representing low boiling point oils passes out through the line 10- from the tubes 5 into the collecting tank 11 from approved form of treatmentfsuch as now employed in treating pressure distillate to produce motor fuels. 1 a The temperature of the compressed vapors unless cooled during compression may be ext5 cessive and form fixed gases insubstantialt quantity. and to control the temperature-J crude oil is circulated by a line 14 through jacket 15 surrounding this compressor to ab-' sorb the excess heat, which oil travels; an iv through the line lfito the charg'ng line 2 en tering the heat interchanger; I To start the process the heat inter-char l' f is heated with live steam from a be ief through the tubes 5- to start' 'the vaporiiwres tion of the charging stock. When vaporsof same appear the steam is shut voff and themensurate with the pressure to' give the v greatest cracking 'efiiciency, whereupon the" vapors discharge into the interior tubes 5'of the heat exchanger. When this stage of an- I operation has been reached the highly heatedcracked vapors passing from the compress or supply sufiicient heat inthe heat interchanger to raise the temperature of the incoming charging stock sufliciently high to vaporize a substantial ortion of such stools The vapors'issue there rom at about'500- to where under a high degree of controlled isothermio compresslon the vapors are raised to a temperature of say 700-.to 950 F., before being permitted to discharge through the thereof to a cracking degree.

' what I c perature of, say, 500

changer under a vacuum whereby the boiling.

point of the oilis materially lowered 'so that a substantial portion of this charging" when it reaches a tem- F. The unvaporized through the residual stock is vaporized portion is withdrawn line 2- by pump 2" into the hot residuumtank 3 continuously where it can be used in any suitable manner. A float valve may 7 be used to maintain the oil level in the inter changer above the residual outlet to prevent the escape of gases.

The cracked vapors are condensed in the heat interchanger by thecooling effect of the charging stock, and the condensate passes on to the collecting tank for the low boiling point oils.

In carrying out the process I can utilize any approved form of heat interchanger,

whreby the heat of the cracked vapors is utilized to vaporize a substantial part of the charging stock. This operation is preferably carried out under a vacuum in order that the temperatures maintained will cause a. vaporization of a very large quantity of the crude oil. Furthermore, any'approved type of compressor can beutili'zed for com-' pressing the vapors to raise the-temperature The process consists essentially in v aporizinga portion of the charging stock by heat extracted from previously formed vaporsthat have been compressed isothermallyto a cracking condition of pressure and temperature.

Having thus described my invention,

aim is: I a

1. A process ofvoil conversion, consisting in passing charging stock through a heat interchanger where a portion thereof is vathe charging stock in midget in passing charging stock through a heatinterchanger where .a, portion thereof is vaporized while under a vacuum, 1n subjecting 'saidheatedvap'ors to a compression sufficient to raise the same to a cracking temperature, and in passing said vapors to changer to supply heat to charging stoclc I 3. A process of oil conversion, consisting in passing charging stock through a heat interchanger where a portion thereof is vaporized, in subjecting said heated vapors to cracking-conditions of temperature and pressure by compression, vapors to said heat interchanger to supply heat to vaporize the charging stock and to condense said vapors.

4. A process of oil conversion, consisting inpassing" charging stock to a chamber where a substantial portion thereof is vaporized, in subjecting the vapors to a high degree of compression suflicient to raise thev same to a cracking temperature, in maintaining the temperaturg to which said vapors said heat inter-- vaporize the v c5 and in passing said are raisedsubstantially constant, in heatingsaid chamber by passage of the cracked vapors therethrouglnin Withdrawing residualoil from the chamber, and in collecting the converted products.

5. A process of oil conversion, in passingoil through a heat interchanger Where a portion thereof is vaporized, in subjecting the heated vapors to cracking conditions of temperature and pressure by comconsisting pression, and in passing said vapors to the" heat interchanger to supply heat to vaporize oil therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature WALTER EDWIN TRENT. 

